Senator Lena Taylor
( MADISON ) In a ceremony this morning at the meeting of the Milwaukee Community Justice Council, the State Bar of Wisconsin honored Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) for her work promoting high standards in the judicial system and legal professions in Wisconsin. Taylor, chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, is a leading voice on justice matters in the Legislature. The award from the State Bar comes with note of the numerous pieces of legislation that Taylor authored and brokered passage of over the past session.
“I am deeply humbled and appreciative of my colleagues in the practice of law for this incredible distinction,” Taylor stated. “Throughout this session I fought to ensure that legislation, whether my own or pending in my committee, would upheld the ideal that justice is for all people. It is a great affirmation to know that those efforts are not lost on the people who daily take to the courtrooms and law libraries to uphold justice for every citizen.”
The State Bar of Wisconsin made notes of several significant measures that Taylor authored or was instrumental in passing including:
Legislation to resolve a potential state tax pitfall arising from ambiguous federal tax legislation (2009 Act 341) Creating a higher homestead exemption, which protects specifi ed property of a debtor from the collection attempts made by a creditor (2009 WI Act 80)
Returning 17-year olds to juvenile court jurisdiction (AB 732)
Updating the eligibility criteria for individuals to qualify for a public defender (2009 WI Act 164)
In addition, the bar noted Taylor’s service as a member of the Joint Finance Committee led to significant protections and funding decisions for the justice system, including:
Increasing funding for the Access to Justice Commission Defeating a budget proposal to eliminate Administrative Law Judges in DWD’s Equal Rights Division
“This session has been a landmark one for me,” Taylor concluded. “Of 82 bills signed into law, I am proud of the work that has been accomplished in the interests of justice. Truly, we have moved Wisconsin forward in persevering in the interest of justice for all of our citizens.”